I have my feelings on this but I think this could be a good topic for the new “blog” that I now think I may do for the website.

Before the Stampede and Stampede management bashing gets completely out of hand, maybe a couple things need to be said.  Yes the weekend training was in conflict with prem games.  It was added very late in response to the “raping” we got in game 1.  I would be concerned if no one thought things needed to be done after that.  End of the day though, the Stampede management needs to worry about the Stampede regardless of scheduling conflicts.  Being the long weekend, many players were not around for various reasons due to short notice.  Mostly legit, some not so great, some injured.  Regardless of whether some top players show up or not, its the individuals responsibility to make their own effort.  I came from chch and certainly would like to have seen more players but even knowing those who showed, I still would have come.  I have to take responsibility for myself as 1 of 22.  I can’t make my decisions based on whether others turn up or not.  Leads to a nasty domino effect.  Those who did show up, their presence was noticed.  We got a practice in that will certainly help those who attended.  More players turned up for the later practice and we did some more work. The NZIHL isn’t meant to be a league where you pay your money and you get equal ice time.  I have to earn my time just like everyone else.  Where you prove it is in the training.  It was good that the Dunedin players showed for the first part.  I’m sure coach was disappointed that they and many players couldn’t be there for the second training.  Natural enough.  A coach needs players to coach.  Regardless of reasons, its still disappointing.  Bickering about ice time really shouldn’t be a part.  It’s only two games into the season.  First game was horrible so things haven’t settled yet.  A few more games need to happen until the burnings and stoning should occur.  If we treat it like a bush league, then it will be a bush league.  The players who don’t take it seriously will eventually be found out.  Those who have worked hard, will eventually get in assuming the practice has paid off and their play improves.  Just like any real team in sports, nothing is gifted.

Yes Vince, there are certainly some thoughts going round Dunedin about Stampede management and some people are jumping to conclusions. A lot of the opinions people have expressed to me in Dunedin are based on the fact that us Dunedin boys got very little ice time or none at all in the first games for Stampede. Sure, it would have be nice to skate in front of the home crowd, but if we have not yet earnt our position, then I dont feel we should be out there. It makes sense at this level to play your top players, and some of us are still struggling with things as basic as D-zone coverage. This lack of experience at this level can hurt your team greatly. Mabye we should have gone on at the end of the first game though for experience, but its not our call to make. Its just a let-down to the guys coming to see us play when we dont get out there, when they make signs and chant out names of Dunedin players, but i guess one day we will earn our spot and get to play a few more shifts.

At the moment it is awesome just training with the Stampede guys, as they are the elite players in nz with many being Ice Blacks, so we are gaining great experience from the sessions. Practices with all the team are vital. So for a team playing what would be called “elite” hockey in New Zealand, it should be expected that players attend all trainings and that this takes priority.

However, this weekend us Dunedin boys choosing not to practice in the second training i believe was a fair call. Everyone was quite sure we would beat the queenstown team with who we had already, for the premier round, however it is about more than that to us, as we had already committed to our Dunedin team, presuming the practices were going to be based around this premier round. So we made the best effort we could to attend the trainings, travelling to queenstown for the morning training then back to gore for the 2 games which we had already committed to.

The distance for travel makes it extremely hard, with many of us studying and working, the Stampede practices do not just involve a quick jump in your car, 5 minute trip to the rink for training, it is really a whole weekend for us which is an effort to say the least. The other thing is that the queenstown boys train another 2 times per week together, which makes it hard to keep up with the systems we play for Stampede. It is hard for us to move up the ranks with this kind of disadvantage, but i guess we just have to prove ourselves in trainings before we will get our shot.

Anyway, I do agree with Vince on the fact that there is a lot more to it than appears. But naturally being in Dunedin (or Chch) makes it hard to keep up and play for a team based mainly in Queenstown. I know if Jackie and Steve were not so kind and generous, theres no way i could afford to drive to queenstown for trainings.

Playing for the team is amazing though, we will keep working and doing our best to earn as much ice time as we can.

Peace all,
STIFF #19